Selective beta-1 receptor blockade with oral practolol in man. A dose-related phenomenon

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that oral administration of a low dose of practolol in man produces selective beta-1 receptor blockade, whereas oral administration of a high dose blocks both beta-1 and beta-2 receptors. Normal men were studied 2-4 h after a single oral dose of practolol (1.5 or 12 mg/kg) and after placebo. Effects on beta-1 receptors were studied by measuring heart rate responses to exercise. Effects on beta-2 receptors were tested by measuring forearm vascular responses to brachial arterial infusions of isoproterenol. Neither dose of practolol altered base-line heart rate, forearm vascular resistance, and arterial pressure, Both low and high doses significantly attenuated heart rate responses to exercise. Forearm vasodilator responses to isoproterenol were attenuated by the high dose, but not the low dose, of practolol. Serum concentrations of practolol 2 h after administration of the drug and at the time of the studies of forearm vascular responses averaged 0.5+/-0.1 (SE) and 5.9+/-1.0 mug/ml for low and high doses of practolol, respectively. The results indicate that the phenomenon of selective beta-1 receptor blockade in man is related to the dose and serum concentration of practolol selectively block beta-1 receptors; a high dose and serum concentrations block both beta-1 and beta-2 receptors.